What does it take to write, create or star in a Shakespeare production in New York’s Central Park? Hard work, talent, luck—all backed up by a good education. You have to supply the first three yourself, but PlaybillEDU™ can help you find the fourth. Here is a rundown on where the principals of The Public Theatre’s King Lear pursued their college studies. Visit PlaybillEDU.com to learn how you can follow in their footsteps. Individual school listings on the site are linked below.

Cast List:
John Lithgow: Harvard University and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Annette Bening: San Diego Mesa College and San Francisco State University
Jessica Hecht: New York University – Tisch School of the Arts
Christopher Innvar: Syracuse University
Jay O. Sanders: SUNY Purchase
Jeremy Bobb: Otterbein College
Steven Boyer: The Juilliard School
Jessica Collins: London's Royal National Theatre Studio and the Howard Fine Acting Studio
Slate Holmgren: Yale University and London Academy of Music and Dramatic
Art Chukwudi Iwuji: Yale University
Dale Place: Oakland University
Eric Sheffer Stevens: Wheaton College
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Yale University and University of California--Berkeley
Andrew Burnap: University of Rhode Island and Yale University
Christopher Ghaffari: Syracuse University and Princeton University
Ryan-James Hatanaka: New York University – Tisch School of the Arts
Dave Klasko: Columbia University and Brandeis

Production Credits:
Daniel Sullivan (Director): San Francisco State University 
John Lee Beatty (Scenic Design): Brown University and Yale University
Susan Hilferty (Costume Design): Syracuse University
Jeff Croiter (Lighting Design): SUNY Purchase